WASHINGTON (March 21, 2014) –As part of its centennial celebration, the Howard University Department of Music will host an Alumni Jazz Concert on April 7, at 7 p.m., at Cramton Auditorium, showcasing the talents of past and present members of Afro Blue, The Howard University Jazz Ensemble (HU Jazztet) and renowned pianist Geri Allen.

This concert serves as a release for Afro Blue’s 4th CD, “Jubilee,” as well as the latest CD for the HU Jazztet, “Paintings.” CD’s will be available for purchase at the concert.

A true original, Allen has been hailed by The New York Times as “a jazz pianist who dares to follow an unmarked road.” She has been honored by the Los Angeles Times for her “extensive music education and a devotion to swing roots of jazz.” Currently the director of jazz studies at Pittsburgh State University, Allen is sharing her knowledge and experience with a new generation of artists. Allen will be joined during the performance by Howard’s award-winning vocal jazz ensemble, Afro Blue, singing selections from their 2013 collaborative concert with Allen at the historic Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York, “Celebrating the Great Women of The Apollo.”

Also featured on the program will be Traces of Blue, the vocal ensemble which appeared as Afro-Blue on the 3rd season of NBC’s reality a cappella competition “The Sing-Off.” They will perform selected fan favorites from “The Sing-Off” as well as new material that will appear on their upcoming album. The second half of the program will feature some of Washington, DC’s best jazz artists in an exciting ensemble consisting of Alumni of HU Jazztet, directed by Fred Irby, Ph.D.

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the University has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, a Marshall Scholar, 30 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, call 202-238-2330, or visit the University's Web site at www.howard.edu.